BT Went Neh-she-nuhl (Part 4): Birthing Pains and the Joys of Seeing the Baby

I mentioned that we were able to practice as a complete cast just once, remember?In fact, on the day of the event, the cast was supposed to do a run-through and blocking practice on stage for the first time in the morning (yes, the day of the performance was also the day we stepped on the stage). Again, SUPPOSED is the operative word because, guess what: our SUPPOSED run-through practice did not materialize. So talagang one full practice lang ang cast! I was soooooo nervous and agitated. I really wanted that run-through! One of the reasons was because, the night before the other cast members suggested required me to dance ala-Indian belly dancer, while I thought that all along I’d have been just sitting as a judge! So I wanted to practice that, plus my exag rampa as the Bb. Pilipinas winner-judge. I calmed myself by primping, hehe.

In the dressing room just a few hours before the start of the program

Until the last hour before the start of the event, I was still hoping against hope we could do a run-through, but it never materialized, I dunno why. So minutes before we let our hundreds and hundreds of audience in, we got together on stage, prayed, and wished each one luck.

And of course, picture-picture.

The cast plus other BRAIN TRAIN teachers just minutes before the show.

Joys of Seeing Our Baby

After the grueling weeks, the almost-fights-among-teachers that happened…the the show began!

Half an hour before the show…DL Umali Hall was filling up quickly! Photo courtesy of Joseph Roble of Road Apple Media Productions

I was not allowed to go to the audience, as my appearance and outfit would have to be a surprise. Darn, I really wanted to watch! Thus I hid at the backstage, peeping through a small crack, nervous as Irvin went up on stage, and relieved when Pong Garcia’s “Gerald Anderson, Xian Lim, and John Lloyd Cruz all rolled into Oneeee!!! idea was super benta to the audience! Wild applause met Irvin’s appearance on stage. From then on, I was able to breath calmly. Well, I got nervous again when I first appeared on stage as Kate Middleton:

The wild applause that met my appearance both boosted my confidence (they LOVE me!!!) yet also made me even more nervous (Ohh…they LOVE me?!? I might disappoint them!!!) I actually had a few boo-boos, as I forgot sdome of my lines and just kept on saying “That was a bloody good puh-foh-mance”.

And after my Kate Middleton stint, I hurried to the dressing room to change into my Indira Indi-na Gandhi attire (the attire I loved the most!). Got nervous again, because I was supposed to enter the stage dancing! Anyway, keber na lang. If I appear funny, then good!

As Judge #2: The former Gandhi, Ms. Indi-na GandhiPhoto courtesy of Joseph Roble

Many said this was my best role. Good thing–I saved the best for last! The audience had so much many laughs here! Ang galing ng “chemistry” namin ni Mitch (pun not intended, I swear!)

Ms. Others’ banter with the “terror ng Institute of Chemistry”, Ms. Mitch Bincolado that capped the show, signaling the start of the film showing

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Irvin attributes the success of the teachers’ performance to the fact that all of us performers are eksenadora by nature. That is, no one wants to be upstaged. Just like how we are in our classes. I agree. But aside from our sheer talent, the want to hog the spotlight (hehe), I attribute this event’s success to LOVE. Yes, LOVE: the love of the staff and teachers to BRAIN TRAIN (the teachers’ performance was pro bono), and the love of the students to BRAIN TRAIN! We were deeply touched to have seen students from as far as Quezon City and Cavite! Yep, they were there to watch us, not caring about the rains and that they got lost in commuting to Los Banos!

The BRAIN TRAIN family with the audience. Thank you very very very much for making the event a huge success!

The BRAIN TRAIN Family strikes a pose in front of DL Umali Hall before heading to the Brain Train HQ to celebrate

In behalf of everyone at BRAIN TRAIN, a heartfelt thanks to everyone who made BT@20: Going Neh-she-nuhl a huuuuuuge success!

PS: Here are other highlights of the event (all photos taken by Joseph Roble:

Mom, Mama (my mother-in-law), Randy, and Raviv gives the medals to the parents of the awardees